Fransa give East Bengal a scare

Defending champion East Bengal survived a scare from debutants Fransa before holding on for a goalless draw in a second round match of the ninth National Football League, at the Nehru stadium in Margao, Goa, on Thursday.

Fransa effected two changes, bringing in two foreigners -- Ghanian Benjamin Owusuansah and Nigerian Joseph Ogor -- to give more teeth to their attack. And both did not let the team down as they kept the rival defence under pressure, particularly in the second half.

It was East Bengal's 'keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar who brought off two brilliant saves off Sebastiao Endro to deny Fransa victory.

Baichung Bhutia, who was kept quiet by man of the match Louis Aniweta, managed to elude his marker once but failed to net the ball.

Fransa, after beating Vasco in their first match, now have four points from two matches while East Bengal, who have drawn both their matches, have two points.